World Accreditation Day is an annual global observance held on June 9. It aims at recognizing and promoting the role of accreditation across various sectors. This day aims to raise awareness about the value and benefits of accreditation in ensuring competence, reliability, and credibility in industries such as healthcare, laboratories, certification bodies, and conformity assessment services. The theme for 2023 is “Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade." The central focus is to highlight how accreditation actively contributes to the achievement of several vital United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Read More

Damodar Kashyap, a 74-year-old tribal farmer in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, has transformed 400 acres of land in his village into a flourishing forest through a community-based approach to conservation. As the village sarpanch, he implemented strict rules and fines for forest destruction and deployed villagers to patrol and guard the forest. Kashyap also utilized local beliefs and practices to emphasize the sacredness of the forest. He has received recognition for his conservation work, including the Paul K Feyerabend Foundation Award in 2014 and a chapter in the Class 9 social sciences textbook of the Chhattisgarh Board.Read More

The CCEA chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the central sector plan ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme’ with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2,980 crore with extension of time period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission cycle. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: The exploration for coal and lignite under the scheme is conducted in two broad stages: Promotional (Regional) Exploration and Detailed Exploration in non-Coal India Limited blocks. An outlay of Rs 1,650 crore will be provided for promotional (Regional) exploration and Rs 1,330 crore for detailed drilling in non-CIL (Coal India Limited) areas.....Read More

India and the U.S. pledged to streamline their export control regimes for critical technologies at the inaugural India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue (IUSSTD). ABOUT INDIA-U.S. STRATEGIC TRADE DIALOGUE (IUSSTD) It represents a key institutional innovation to unlock the potential of high-tech trade between the two countries envisaged as a part of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET). IUSSTD focused on ways in which both governments can facilitate the development and trade of technologies in critical domains such as semiconductors, space, telecom, quantum, AI, defence, bio-tech and others. Both sides reviewed the relevant bilateral export control regulations with the objective....Read More

Nathasha Edirisooriya, a Sri Lankan standup comic, was arrested under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act from the Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo. ABOUT THE ACT The ICCPR is a multilateral treaty that deals with human rights. The Act was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on 1966 and came into force in 1976. The Covenant respects civil and political rights of individuals, including right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights, and rights to due process and a fair trial. The ICCPR is part of the International Bill....Read More